Rachel’s supervisor said, “She does a great job at obtaining patients’ diet orders and works with the patients to ensure they select a meal they would enjoy. She frequently jumps in and assists her teammates on their assigned floors and trains new employees on the correct procedure for obtaining meal orders.”

Rachel also does a great job of monitoring the nourishment rooms. She ensures the temperatures of the refrigerators and freezers are recorded daily, checks all items for expiration dates daily and thoroughly cleans the refrigerator as needed, “not waiting until the assigned weekend cleaning schedule,” added her supervisor. “Rachel provides great customer service to the patients as well as her teammates!”

Some of Rachel’s patients also had glowing remarks. One patient said, “Rachel went the extra mile! So sweet, kind and thoughtful! On my mom’s birthday, she had a birthday placemat, a card and a special pound cake with strawberries on her lunch tray. My mom was elated by it! Thank you for caring.”

Still another patient recalled, “Ms. Rachel Parks had to take my mother’s order for lunch and dinner. Then when she returned to pick up her tray, she saw the thickener and asked if mom’s diet had changed. When we informed her yes and that the speech therapist was going to put in an order change, Ms. Parks took care of everything for us.”

Rachel is truly an asset to the Wayne Health team, and we are fortunate to have her as part of the hospital family! Thank you, Rachel!

As part of Wayne UNC Health Care’s ongoing Customer Service Initiative, one employee is recognized each month as the “Heart of Carolina Care.” This person represents the commitment, care and compassion we want all of our employees to exhibit every day. Nominations are made by patients and their families, co-workers, supervisors or hospital visitors. If you’ve had a great experience that you think we should know about, contact us or fill out one of the Comment Cards located throughout the hospital. We always like to hear about the little things our employees do to make our patient’s experience the best it can be, and we’d love to hear from you!

]]>May is Mental Health Monthhttp://www.waynehealth.org/livewell/mental-health-month/
Tue, 30 May 2017 17:24:27 +0000http://www.waynehealth.org/?p=21714For the last 68 years, May has been designated as Mental Health Month in an effort to educate people that mental illnesses are as real as other physical illnesses, and that they can be treated effectively. By acting early and effectively, you could prevent many of these illnesses from progressing, or even occurring in the first place.

Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition, as 1 in 5 U.S. adults will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. However, everyone is affected or impacted by mental illness through friends and family. Here’s a few facts on mental illness in America from the National Alliance on Mental Illness…

People experiencing mental health conditions often face rejection, bullying and even discrimination. This can make their journey to recovery longer and more difficult. Navigating life with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation, blame and secrecy that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support and living well. Learning how to cope with stigma and how to avoid and address stigma are important for all of us.

Remember, mental health is essential for a person’s overall health. Prevention works, treatment is effective, and people can recover from mental disorders and live full and productive lives.

If you or a loved one needs help, please call 919.731.6255 to get more information. If this an emergency crisis situation, please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.TALK (8255).

]]>Karissa Brown was April 2017 Heart of Carolina Care Honoreehttp://www.waynehealth.org/livewell/karissa-brown-april-2017-heart-carolina-care-honoree/
Fri, 26 May 2017 13:00:00 +0000http://www.waynehealth.org/?p=21736Congratulations to Karissa Brown in Admissions for being named the April 2017 Heart of Carolina Care recipient! Beginning in January, we changed the name of our monthly Heart of the Hospital award to the Heart of Carolina Care to better reflect our commitment to Carolina Care and the values and behaviors it represents.

According to Karissa’s supervisor, Karissa is very compassionate with both patients and teammates. “She comes in and starts her work each morning quiet as a mouse, and is always willing to help her teammates. Karissa is exceptional!”

A few patients also had some glowing remarks about Karissa. “Karissa greets me every time I see her,” said one patient, “no matter how busy she is.” Another patient noted that Karissa always smiles and waves, and has a way of making people feel special.

“The hospital is not a place any of us want to go, but people like Karissa make it easier,” another patient said.

Karissa is truly an asset to the Wayne Health team, and we are fortunate to have her as part of the hospital family! Thank you, Karissa!

As part of Wayne UNC Health Care’s ongoing Customer Service Initiative, one employee is recognized each month as the “Heart of Carolina Care.” This person represents the commitment, care and compassion we want all of our employees to exhibit every day. Nominations are made by patients and their families, co-workers, supervisors or hospital visitors. If you’ve had a great experience that you think we should know about, contact us or fill out one of the Comment Cards located throughout the hospital. We always like to hear about the little things our employees do to make our patient’s experience the best it can be, and we’d love to hear from you!

]]>Lynzie Vice, RN was March 2017 Heart of Carolina Care Honoreehttp://www.waynehealth.org/livewell/lynzie-vice-march-2017-heart-of-carolina-care-honoree/
Mon, 01 May 2017 13:00:56 +0000http://www.waynehealth.org/?p=21521Congratulations to Lynzie Vice, RN on the 6th Floor, for being named the March 2017 Heart of Carolina Care recipient! Beginning in January, we changed the name of our monthly Heart of the Hospital award to the Heart of Carolina Care to better reflect our commitment to Carolina Care and the values and behaviors it represents.

A patient’s family member recently said, “This nurse has been amazing! She has all the attributes of a professional nurse, but the element of compassion and sympathy…loving on my mother as if she were her own mother… stroking her hair and giving words of comfort to a dying woman. I wish more health professionals had this same quality.”

Lynzie’s director said that she is exuberant, enthusiastic, and has a “live-for-the-moment quality.” She added that Lynzie is fun, happy, and “has a genuine smile and a warmness that creates an instant rapport with others.” Lynzie is known to be very compassionate towards her patients and her team, and to have high expectations of herself. Her director remarked that she can be a “mother hen” at times and is always a team player. “She does not even have to be asked; she just jumps in!”

Lynzie is truly an asset to the Wayne Health team, and we are fortunate to have her as part of the hospital family! Thank you, Lynzie!

As part of Wayne UNC Health Care’s ongoing Customer Service Initiative, one employee is recognized each month as the “Heart of Carolina Care.” This person represents the commitment, care and compassion we want all of our employees to exhibit every day. Nominations are made by patients and their families, co-workers, supervisors or hospital visitors. If you’ve had a great experience that you think we should know about, contact us or fill out one of the Comment Cards located throughout the hospital. We always like to hear about the little things our employees do to make our patient’s experience the best it can be, and we’d love to hear from you!

]]>Visitation Restrictions Discontinuedhttp://www.waynehealth.org/livewell/flu-restrictions-discontinued/
Wed, 26 Apr 2017 12:00:43 +0000http://www.waynehealth.org/?p=21583Effective immediately, visitation restrictions due to flu have been discontinued at Wayne UNC Health Care. Flu cases have decreased significantly throughout North Carolina and in Wayne County during the last two weeks. Our infection control team will continue to monitor flu rates both locally and statewide and will report any significant change. We appreciate the public’s cooperation while the restrictions were in effect. We understand such restrictions may be inconvenient, but they are always put in place in the interest of patient, teammate and visitor safety.
]]>Kenneth Ford was February 2017 Heart of Carolina Care Honoreehttp://www.waynehealth.org/livewell/kenneth-ford-february-2017-heart-of-carolina-care-honoree/
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 13:00:21 +0000http://www.waynehealth.org/?p=21524Congratulations to Kenneth Ford for being named the February 2017 Heart of Carolina Care recipient! Beginning in January, we changed the name of our monthly Heart of the Hospital award to the Heart of Carolina Care to better reflect our commitment to Carolina Care and the values and behaviors it represents.

Kenneth is a transport aide in Central Transport and has been with Wayne UNC Health Care since February 2013.

Kaitlin, an RN with Wayne UNC, said “Kenneth went above and beyond when transporting a claustrophobic patient. Without him, the patient would have refused her MRI, delaying care. He was awesome and I want to thank him for his kind manner and patience.”

Julie Wall stated that Kenneth is a “major team player.” She added that he is “friendly, dependable, cheerful and just the most
polite person I have ever had the pleasure to know!” Kenneth is known to be flexible, and will go out of his way to help anyone. He is always willing to work a little extra to ensure patient flow continues.

Kenneth is truly an asset to the Wayne Health team, and we are fortunate to have him as part of the hospital family! Thank you, Kenneth!

As part of Wayne UNC Health Care’s ongoing Customer Service Initiative, one employee is recognized each month as the “Heart of Carolina Care.” This person represents the commitment, care and compassion we want all of our employees to exhibit every day. Nominations are made by patients and their families, co-workers, supervisors or hospital visitors. If you’ve had a great experience that you think we should know about, contact us or fill out one of the Comment Cards located throughout the hospital. We always like to hear about the little things our employees do to make our patient’s experience the best it can be, and we’d love to hear from you!